Singeli is a high-energy, fast-paced electronic music genre that originated in the working class neighborhoods of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, particularly in areas like Tandale and Manzese, around the mid-2000s.
It is characterized by its incredibly rapid tempo, often ranging from 200 to 300 beats per minute, which makes it one of the fastest music genres in the world. The music features repetitive digital beats, looping synthesizer melodies, and rapid-fire, chant-like vocals in Swahili.
Singeli grew out of local all-night parties and celebrations, such as weddings, where DJs and MCs would perform over sped-up instrumental tracks, often sampling from traditional Tanzanian genres like taarab and ngoma. The lyrics often focus on themes of everyday life, social issues, and street culture, giving the genre a raw and authentic feel that resonates with the youth.
The origin of the name, one popular theory suggests that the name “Singeli” came from a man known by that name who was an exceptionally skilled dancer in the Magomeni area of Dar es Salaam. People would say to “dance like Singeli” when the music was played, and the name eventually became synonymous with the genre itself.
The first recognized artist often credited as a pioneer of Singeli in Tanzania is Msaga Sumu, who is considered one of the early founders of the genre.
